Posted by Mia in 
As a rule, simple mobile phones are almost never equipped with a Wi-Fi module. For some reason, it is believed that this is for communicators or multi-functional smartphones only. However, people around the world use mobile phones to read news on internet sites, download ringtones, watch weather forecasts. All this they do through GPRS or EDGE. This situation is beneficial to operators of cellular communication, but has a negative effect on the thickness of the user’s purse.In the meantime, there are a lot of free Wi-Fi access points in major cities, but only owners of communicators, PDAs or laptops can use them. Sony Ericsson G705 solves this.
Appearance
The thin, lightweight, compact Sony Ericsson G705 (95,0 h47, 0h14, 5 mm/98 d) perfectly fits even in the breast pocket of a shirt. It lies excellently in the hand thanks to the uneven soft-touch plastic, of which the rear cover and the hand edge are made. In addition, the rounded edges of the rear wall allow to better hold your phone in your palm.
Sony Ericsson G705 is a vertical slider, and because of this its entire front panel is a large display, covered with a mirror protective coating, and a unit of control keys. The sliding mechanism itself has a notable gap – the shell halves are slightly relative to each other, but it has no effect on the effectiveness of the disclosure. The closer of the slider is a little bit tight, but on the other hand it does not allow the device to open accidentally.
At the top end there is the «Play» key, which provides a quick start for the MP3-Player.
Unfortunately, the key is too small, so working with it is uncomfortable. At the right end, buttons of volume adjustment and camera activation are traditionally placed. But the left side is occupied only by the interface connector.
According to tradition, it is responsible for connecting to the charger/ computer, as well as to «music» adapters, to which the user can connect headphones with a plug minijack 3,5 mm.
In general, the quality of the assembly of Sony Ericsson G705 is nice, as well as the quality of materials. Of course, only the fussy control below the display cuts the eye. It should be noted that in the collection of Sony Ericsson there is a slider which has a similar appearance – the model W705, positioned as a music phone.
Outwardly it is different exactly with the control buttons – in the W705 they most harmoniously fit into the overall concept of the phone.
Management
The control unit, located below the display, has already been mentioned. Just note that it consists of a large 4-positional navigation key with a central button to confirm and six additional buttons. They are enough not only for basic work with the phone, but for the quick start of any applications.
All buttons have a flawless operation, but also a strong backlash that coupled with the gap, found in the study of the sliding mechanism, weakly corresponds with the high value claimed for the device.
The digital keyboard is executed in a single plastic panel, very nice to touch.
The roughness of the wave-like keys is high and fingers do not slide off while typing numbers. In addition, accidental activation of neighboring buttons was not observed.
Only the dim lighting was disappointing, as only the right edge is bright enough.
Other Features
When removing the back cover it is necessary to move the locking lever, located on the lower end of the shell and hook the cover by a small ledge.
But even after removing the lock you have to detach the cover almost by the entire perimeter, as it clings to the shell in striking way.
The pleasant features include the fact that the phone supports M2 memory cards up to 32 GB (maximum capacity for this size up to date), whereas in the set there is already a card of 1 GB capacity. In addition, the internal memory of 120 MB in the tube for recording address data, text or photographs is more than enough.
Display
First of all, the phone display pleases with its large size. The diagonal is 2.4 “- almost like in modern communicators, but there is not a sensory substrate.
Instead the resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and the support of 262 thousand colors there is a new tool not only for surfing mobile web sites, but also to view photos or play videos and even movies. In addition, you can boast bright colors and large living angles of vision.
Communications
The device works not only for the entire range of GSM-networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), but also supports the UMTS networks (850/1900/2100 MHz). The transfer of Internet data is carried out, respectively, via EDGE and HSDPA. We have not tested the 3G, but the GSM was studied well enough to express the high sensitivity of the phone.
In addition, there is a bluetooth-module and what is more interesting, a full Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g, allowing you not only to connect to Internet networks, but also to organize home networks.
For this the new model has a DLNA-server that provides connectivity to any home equipment with embedded Wi-Fi modules. For example, you might organize a wireless network with your home router, and view photos from your phone in your computer. Connecting to an access point does not cause any problems – the phone clearly shows the visible networks on the screen. The user can only select the appropriate. But the work of Wi-Fi has been tested in one of the capital’s cafes with free Internet access. No criticism – websites loaded fast enough.
Wireless Modules
It must be said that by this model the company Sony Ericsson, following other leading manufacturers such as Motorola and Nokia, has decided to break the existing unwritten standards for «simple» phones. In addition to this Wi-Fi, the manufacturer has equipped the device by another two wireless modules. First – it is a usual FM-radio, using as an antenna the connected set. The interface of management program is stylish, familiar to other models of phones by Sony Ericsson.
But the second module in most cases is established only in communicators – it is a GPS-receiver. For navigation a good program Wayfinder Navigator is used, with the ability to save the downloaded maps on the flash-card of the device. In addition, you can use the well-known Google Maps.
But if you only want to know the exact location or speed, it is better to run a small utility, which provides only brief information about your location, and found companions.
The quality of the GPS-navigator is nice, but the connection is often lost. In the car, the navigator is stable only near the glass. The cold start time is approximately 5 minutes. It can be sped up, immediately after starting the device, by forcing the navigator to work in A-GPS mode, i.e. to determine its location by cells.
Camera
The camera, unfortunately, is not included in the strong points of the new model. It is based on CMOS-matrix 3.2 MP, has an LED flash, but, alas, has no autofocus, so the quality of the images is poor.
Photographing is carried out up to a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. The menu of the camera and its settings are well known from the other tubes of Sony Ericsson. Among the interesting features only the possibility of putting together the panorama of three shots can be noted, though the result is often of a very mediocre quality.
The photos have good color, but variegated noises. In addition, due to the lack of autofocus the frame details are at a low level, and it is better to forget about macro.
Below you can see samples of photos, the archive with photos can be downloaded here.
Time of autonomous work
The unit is equipped with a Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 950 mAh. In the normal mode of work (20 minutes of conversation per day, working with the address book, viewing news feeds via GPRS) the device will have to be charged no sooner than after three days. On the one hand, this rate is fairly high, but on the other – do not forget that the G705 has a number of energy units that “eat up” the battery power in a few hours. For example, when working in the networks of Wi-Fi the phone will require charging after just three hours. The same index of autonomous work will be demonstrated with the enabled GPS- navigation.
Software Features
The menu of the phone is a 3 x 4 matrix consisting of superbly worked animated icons.
There are four design themes, each of which is interesting in its own way. Address book, calendar, alarm clock and other office functions are already known from other models – no criticism to the manufacturer. It is better to see what applications are installed in the phone.
The main installed program characteristics are directed on the work with the Internet. For example, there is a utility for viewing clips from YouTube, or a good program for viewing the weather forecast.
But the original screensaver showing the time in different cities around the world, or the not less interesting customized pedometer does not require an access to the Internet.
In addition, there is a small editor to edit photos taken by the phone – to turn them into funny pictures, or even comics, “gluing” on them ready images (for example, an enormous moustache on your friend’s face). Games on the phone are only two, and rather simple too.
Well, the G705 media player is a standard solution, which is found today in any phone of Sony Ericsson.
The manufacturer does not position the new device as musical, but the sound quality is very decent if you connect good headphones. But it is better not to pull out the set headphones – just buy new ones. All the more if the adapter allows you to connect any headphones with a standard 3.5-mm jack.
Conclusions
The cost of Sony Ericsson G705 is about 13 thousand roubles. The price bites, especially in view of the application of not the most expensive materials and not the most accurate development of all its elements. So the cost of the apparatus is at the level of communicators, whose capabilities are incommensurably larger. You can, of course, argue that the G705 supports 3G, but in Russia, this possibility has not yet been greatly needed, not to say that it is generally needed only by those who are often abroad. So if in a couple of months, the cost of the new model will descend to about 10 thousand roubles, this device (with embedded Wi-Fi modules and GPS) can be considered an advantageous purchase.
